FEELING | tired. I think “cumulative fatigue” from marathon training has set in and it’s a necessary and normal part of the training for long-distance races, but man do I want to hit the snooze button right now. The fact that it’s dark in the morning is not helping. And the fact that I don’t really have a lot of time to sneak in naps, even if I wanted to, adds to the predicament. I guess it’s time to just push through right now.
READING | I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (for the CBBC). I am behind but I am determined to catch up and finish (but I am still waiting to re-borrow the digital copy). Meanwhile, I’ve been reading Hot & Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again by Jancee Dunn. Interesting stuff if you’re a female hitting middle age.
GRATEFUL | for the ‘Special Thanks for Achieving Results'(STAR)1 award at work. It’s nice to know when your work is appreciated.
EATING | cauliflower rice. We’re trying to reduce carbs in Jon’s diet and have switched to cauliflower rice as a side for certain dishes. It’s really good. (Don’t worry, I, for one, am still eating all the carbs, like this blueberry protein pancake (basic recipe here). I am even trying to eat more rather than less right now during marathon training. Haha. I didn’t think I’d ever have the problem of not eating enough carbs.)
DRINKING | water, electrolytes, and more water. Oh, and coffee. Always coffee.
ENJOYING | the sunrise. I complained about it staying dark longer now, but the early mornings are still really nice right now – cooler temps, but blue skies and sunny.
(a little) UNSETTLED | by the news of my supervisor leaving our research group in November. The news came out of nowhere and while I wasn’t particularly happy with everything, I am also not a fan of change and a little anxious about what’s to come. I am hoping for someone new who is a little bit more engaged and focused on team building and career development. It’s always better to think positive, amirite?
LOVING | all the sweet mail that I received in September. It was a good month for happy mail in my (physical) mailbox. Cards from three Cool Bloggers and the lovely hand-knit pot holders from a friend in Germany.
(stupidly) EXCITED | that I thrifted in my own home. I took some things to Goodwill last weekend, including a trash bag full of old clothing that I had purged from my closet a good while ago (even before the recent purge I mentioned in my Demerits & Gold Stars post). Before I put the bag in the car though, I opened it and took a peek (I just wanted to see what was in there) and my eyes fell on a pair of (wide-legged) black linen pants. I remembered those pants because I had them when I met Jon; they are 20+ years old. But guess what? Wide-legged (linen) pants are hip again, I had contemplated buying a new pair, and I remembered how much I loved these pants! So I pulled them out, tried them on (they still fit!), and rescued them from the donation pile. And yeah, I felt a little smug putting them back in my closet.
DONATING | a bunch of stuff this month. It’s been nice to finally get rid of a few things (like old running shoes, clothing, and odds and ends sitting in the garage for way too long) and I hope somebody else gets some more use out of them.
ANTICIPATING | an eventful new month. There are a few changes on the horizon in October. I’ll share more with you soon.
Happy fall y’all. Can you believe it’s almost October?
- A STAR Award is used to recognize noteworthy accomplishments […] either within or outside the scope of an employee’s normal duties. ↩︎
Nicole MacPherson
September 28, 2024 at 7:41 amOh! I have a recommendation for you. It’s called The Menopause Manifesto by Dr Jen Gunter. It is absolutely excellent (if you haven’t already read it) and is a very balanced and evidence based discussion of menopause symptoms and how to deal with them, from a renowned medical professional. Well worth the read!
San
September 28, 2024 at 1:45 pmOh yes, thank you. I saw that book recommendation on your blog and have already put it on my to-read list!
Sara
September 28, 2024 at 3:37 pmI am struggling that it’s basically October!! What is time?! I struggled with the shorter days while in CA over the past two weeks. The best advice I have is to listen to your body! Love that you shopped your own closet and impressed the jeans still fit!! I definitely have a bit of smugness when I see that I can still wear things I bought 10-15 years ago… though admittedly I am starting to worry how to replace those things I love when they wear out. 🤣🤣
San
September 29, 2024 at 5:47 pmYay for shopping our own closets. I love when there’s things that have stood the test of time :)
ernie
September 29, 2024 at 7:19 amHooray for rescuing those pants. I’ve occasionally bought something thinking ‘This will go with that shirt’ only to realize later that I no longer have that shirt. I read I Capture the Castle after the book club read it and I was bummed not to participate in the discussion, but I did enjoy the book. Good luck with your fatigue. I love naps, but I’ve been powering thru and skipping those. I’m trying to get to bed earlier.
San
September 29, 2024 at 5:48 pmAn early bedtime is probably a good idea (better than naps) but ugh, you have so much on your plate recently, Ernie. You need early bedtime AND naps!
Suzanne
September 29, 2024 at 10:00 amI read Hot and Bothered and mostly liked it — the vibe seemed a little overly outraged for my taste, but it had some good practical ideas! Have you read The XX Brain? That’s another interesting book about women and aging — focused mostly on brain health. I thought it was full of good information.
San
September 29, 2024 at 5:49 pmYes, you’re right – it has a bit of an outraged tone, but also some good insights. I actually have heard of The X X Brain and it’s currently bookmarked as to-read as well. :) thank you for the suggestion though.
Rachel
September 29, 2024 at 11:17 amI was thinking of you recently when listening to an interview with the author of “No One Cares About Your Career” – the author said that she found disengaged bosses to be potentially adventagous to ones career. That at least you are not “limited” by a micromanaging boss? But I know boss changes can be unsettling no matter what and I hope you get a better boss this time who is more invested in YOU.
I am so interested in your menopause reading – I am not yet ready to do proper learning about this as I still feel so hormonally whiplashed from pregnancy but I am turning 40 next year so definitely need to start engaging with this more.
Those “thrifted” trousers are so IN right now! Well done! And I can tell they definitely weren’t “in” 5 years ago. But probably were in 10 years ago. Funny!
San
September 29, 2024 at 5:51 pmI agree, micromanaging bosses are also no fun, but my supervisor was also not helpful in getting ahead… so I am definitely hoping for someone new who is more invested in our group/team but not a micromanager. One can dream ;)
Isn’t it wild how style/trends seems to swing back and forth? I am so glad I still had those pants LOL
Meike
September 30, 2024 at 10:45 amOctober what? I feel like the months just fly by these days (and that I never accomplish enough) but I also know that I do plenty and that I tend to put a little to much on my plate. I hope you will get an amazing new boss and that it will all be for the best!
NGS
September 30, 2024 at 1:56 pmLook at you finishing ICTC! I want to hear what you think about it!
Elisabeth
October 4, 2024 at 5:50 pmOh no! I missed posts again. I hate being so late to comment, but have to weigh in about donating and thrifting! I LOVE shopping my own closet. Sometimes I keep things for a few years without wearing them just because some part of me has a sixth sense I’ll want the item again down the road. Those pants are perfect.
I honestly cannot imagine the sheer energy it would take to train for a marathon so you’ve got ALL the gold stars from me <3
Lisa's Yarns
October 9, 2024 at 9:01 amIt feels so good to get stuff out of your house! But yay for finding something that was worth keeping! I just dropped off a bunch of clothes that Taco outgrew at a neighbor’s house last night. We received many hand-me-downs and it is nice to pay them forward to another family!
Change is hard and oftentimes anticipation of change is almost worst than the change itself. I hope you end up liking your new boss!
coco
October 9, 2024 at 2:50 pmit’s part of the process, being fatigue, while training for marathon, it’s the adaptation process which sometimes I am glad to feel it because then I know i’m adapting and pushing.
i’m intrigued about the changes!!! please share soon.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
October 27, 2024 at 5:07 amSorry you feel unsettled from the leaving supervisor. But who knows what’s coming your way.
Getting snail mail is such a great gift.